Dog Grooming School: Everything You Need to Know Before You Start

(Last updated 10/22/2024)

If you love dogs and have a passion for keeping them looking their best, becoming a dog groomer could be a rewarding career path. But before diving in, you probably have a lot of questions: How much does dog grooming school cost? How long will it take? Where can you enroll? Let’s break it down.

How Much Does Dog Grooming School Cost?

The cost of dog grooming school can vary significantly based on the program and location. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $6,000. Lower costs may cover online courses or local community programs, while more comprehensive, in-person training at a professional grooming academy tends to be more expensive. Some schools also offer specialized certifications or hands-on experience, which can add to the cost. Financial aid and payment plans are often available to help manage expenses.

How Long Is Dog Grooming School?

The duration of a dog grooming program depends on the specific school and course intensity. Generally, programs can take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months to complete. Accelerated programs might let you finish in just a few weeks, while more in-depth courses that include extensive hands-on training may take several months.

How Long Do You Go to School for Dog Grooming?

The time you need to go to school for dog grooming depends largely on the course you choose. Short-term certification programs can last just a few weeks, while comprehensive courses could take several months. Part-time programs may stretch out longer to accommodate busy schedules. For most aspiring groomers, a 2-3 month program with practical experience strikes the right balance between education and hands-on learning.

Where to Go to School for Dog Grooming

Finding the right dog grooming school is crucial to building a successful career. There are many grooming schools across the country, offering both in-person and online options. When choosing a school, consider its reputation, the experience of the instructors, and whether they offer hands-on learning opportunities, as real-world experience is vital in this industry.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of dog grooming schools by state below. Take a look and find a school near you that suits your needs!

 

Full List of Dog Grooming Schools in the US by State:

Dog Grooming Schools in Alabama

Lola Bell’s Pet, Inc
18 Midtown Park West
Mobile, AL 36606
(251) 232-4754

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Alaska

N/A

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Arizona

AZ Pet Grooming Academy
6525 W Happy Valley Rd
Suite 102, Glendale, AZ 85310
(480) 250-4195

 

Dog Grooming Schools in California

California Pet Grooming School
6052 Lincoln Ave
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 226-9040

 

Northern California Grooming Academy
1779 Hillsdale Ave.
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 515-7568

 

American Grooming Services, Inc
31285 Temecula Pkwy
Temecula, CA 92592
(888) 550-9274

 

West Coast Grooming Academy
155 E Foothill Blvd. Suite A
Arcadia, CA 91006
(323) 250-8041

 

Wag My Tail Pet Salon & Grooming School
8823 Fenwick St.
Sunland, CA 91040
(818) 951-1506

 

Broadway Grooming Clinic & School
1004 Jefferson St.
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 444-1159

 

4 Dogs Inc
1870 W. Carson St.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-9444

 

West Coast Grooming Academy
12005 Bluff Creek Dr.
Playa Vista, CA 90094
(323) 250-8041

 

International Grooming School
2329 W Sequoia Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92801
(714) 826-1640

 

San Diego Grooming Academy
3805 Utah St.
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 452-2366

 

Amber’s Academy of Pet Styling
9022 Pulsar Ct.
Corona, CA 92883
(877) 926-2377

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Colorado

Dogs’ Own Grooming
224 E 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80538
(970) 663-3647

 

Critter Clips
2873 Dublin Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 593-5880

 

PAWS Grooming Academy
3272 F Rd.
Clifton, CO 81520
(970) 245-5983

 

Colorado Pet Grooming Academy
2797 Industrial Ln
Broomfield, CO 80020
(720) 271-1074

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Connecticut

Connecticut K-9 Education Center
239 Maple Hill Ave.
Newington, CT 06111
860-666-4646

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Delaware

N/A

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Florida

Woof Gang Academy of Grooming
9460 W Colonial Dr.
Ocoee, FL 34761
(321) 247-5581

 

Academy of Animal Arts and Sciences
1258 W Bay Dr STE E
Largo, FL 33770
(727) 517-9546

 

Pets Playground Pet Grooming School
1294 N Federal Hwy
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
(954) 782-4994

 

Dog Grooming USA & Groomer Artist Academy
1415 W 49th St. Suite 1
Hialeah, FL 33012
(305) 300-2863

 

Pet Grooming School Miami, Golden Paws
609 NE 127th St.
North Miami, FL 33161
(305) 290-4245

 

Southwest Florida Dog Grooming Academy
217 Wood St.
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 300-6424

 

Florida Institute of Animal Arts
3776 Howell Branch Road
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-657-5033

 

Merryfield School of Pet Grooming
5040 NE 13th Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 33334
1-888-224-6684

 

Dog Groomer Academy
523 Chicksaw Trail
Orlando, FL 32825
(407) 704-6377 

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Georgia

Georgia Grooming Academy
3911 Dillard St
Powder Springs, GA 30127
(770) 710-5385

 

Joyce’s Dog Grooming School
980 Birmingham Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 668-6700

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Illinois

Midwest School of Pet Grooming
3976 IL-22
Long Grove, IL 60047
(847) 550-0107 

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Indiana

Grooming School of Indiana
2435 S State Rd 135
Greenwood, IN 46143
(317) 919-5471

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Iowa

Terri’s Dog Styling School
3848 N Division St.
Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 391-5535

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Kansas

Kansas City Grooming Academy
12902 W 87th St Pkwy
Lenexa, KS 66215
(913) 451-7387

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Kentucky

Nash Academy
843 Lane Allen Rd.
Lexington, KY 40504
800-788-5301

Dog Grooming Schools in Louisiana

PETS GROOMING ACADEMY OF LOUISIANA, LLC
43300 E Pleasant Ridge Rd
Hammond, LA 70403
(985) 634-9339

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Michigan

Academy of Animal Arts
1142 N Telegraph Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48128
(313) 565-7387

 

Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology
5915 S Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48911
(517) 393-6311

 

Eastside Academy of Dog Grooming
297 Cass Ave
Mt. Clemens, MI 48043
(586) 463-1122

 

The American School of Dog Grooming
11004 E. Nine Mile Road
Warren, MI 48089
810-759-5212

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Minnesota

Rio Grooming School & Salon Show Dogs
12260 Margo Ave S
Hastings, MN 55033

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Mississippi

Lacey’s Pet Pawlor grooming School
175 1st St.
Wiggins, MS 39577
(601) 258-0514

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Missouri

The Academy of Pet Careers
3550 W Clay St.
St. Charles, MO 63301
(636) 778-4889

 

Jan’s Grooming & School LLC
329 N Nettleton Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 883-2547

 

Missouri Institute of Pet Grooming
1937 S Glenstone Ave
Springfield, MO 65804
(417) 318-9500

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Montana

The Montana School of Professional Dog Grooming
2960 U.S. Hwy 2 E
Evergreen, MT 59901
(855) 464-3985

 

Dog Grooming Schools in New Jersey

North Jersey School of Dog Grooming
11 Roosevelt Avenue
Chatham, NJ 07928
800-406-5632

 

The New Jersey Dog Grooming Academy
900A Main St.
Boonton, NJ 07005
(973) 335-0023

 

NJ Dog Grooming School
3133 Quakerbridge Rd.
Hamilton Township, NJ 08619
(609) 249-4949

 

Central Jersey Dog Grooming School
500 N Ave E Suite B
Westfield, NJ 07090
(908) 928-0456

 

Clip Shoppe School of Dog Grooming
2890 NJ-23
Newfoundland, NJ 07435
(973) 697-3008

 

New Jersey School of Dog Grooming
134 Bennett Pl
Hightstown, NJ 08520
(609) 443-4026

 

Dog Grooming Schools in New York

New York Academy of Pet Styling
662 Plank Rd
Clifton Park, NY 12065
(518) 982-0315

 

Madisons Grooming Academy
107-10 71st Road, Austin St. #73-10
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(917) 881-3149

 

Long Island Grooming Academy
405 Jericho Turnpike
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
(516) 775-7297

 

Oceanside Academy of Pet Grooming
6 Davison Plaza
East Rockaway, NY 11518
(516) 442-055

 

Dog Grooming Schools in North Carolina

Nanhall School of Grooming
1226 Westridge Rd
Greensboro, NC 27410
336-852-9867

 

Atlantic Coast Academy of Animal Arts
333 East Durham Rd.
Cary, NC 27511
919-467-1458

 

Raleigh Grooming Academy / Pet Dog Grooming School
6300 Limousine Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 665-9767

 

South Charlotte Dog Grooming School
3919 Providence Rd S
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 243-0202

 

Lake Norman Grooming Academy
19507 W Catawba Ave
Cornelius, NC 28031
(704) 995-6231

 

Dog Grooming Schools in North Dakota

Canine Academy
1401 5th Avenue North
Fargo, ND 58102-4239
(701) 232-7693

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Ohio

Animal Arts Academy
1131 Central Ave
Middletown, OH 45044
(513) 393-7151

 

Cleveland Grooming Academy
8183 Avery Rd
Broadview Heights, OH 44147
(440) 382-1320

 

Diamond Cut Dog Grooming School Inc.
483 Medina Rd.
Medina, Ohio 44256
330-239-1471

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Oklahoma

American School of Dog Grooming
2619 N. MacArthur
Oklahoma City, OK 73127
405-787-8778

 

Unleashed Pet Grooming School
7825 S Walker Ave. Ste B
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
(405) 635-8080

 

Academy of Dog Grooming Arts
5920 NW 38th St.
Warr Acres, OK 73122
(405) 470-5551

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Pennsylvania

Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania
62 Main St. 1st Floor
Yardly, PA 19067
(215) 752-1111

 

Just Four Paws Academy of Pet Styling
1530 W 26th St. #1
Erie, PA 16508
(814) 969-0818

 

Golden Paws Pet Styling Academy
2101 Greentree Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
(412) 279-9383

 

Pampered Pet School of Pet Grooming
109 DeWalt Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15227
(412) 881-4744

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Tennessee

Memphis Grooming Academy
3590 Forest Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
(901) 206-2920

 

Concord School of Grooming
1310 Hollywood Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 342-7732

 

Glamour Grooming Elite Academy
1127 E Raines Rd.
Memphis, TN 38116
(901) 258-9428

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Texas

Texas Allbreed Grooming School
Joan Derouin, 1003 Enterprise Pl, #100, Arlington, TX 76001
(817) 472-7054
(877) 824-8247

 

San Antonio Grooming Academy
102 Toepperwein Rd.
Converse, TX 78109
(210) 996-3236

 

Houston Pet Grooming Academy
6727 ½ Weslayan St.
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 253-5757

 

Shear Excellence Dog Grooming Academy
240 Mikes Way
Leander, TX 78641
(512) 913-7953

 

Friend & Companion Pet Grooming and Teaching Academy
7239 Fairbanks North Houston Rd #3
Houston, TX 77040
(713) 896-8539

 

Golden Paws School of Dog Styling
6727 Weslayan,
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 661-7297

 

APG Academy
3000 Custer Rd #200B
Plano, TX 75075
(469) 298-0181

 

Pet Grooming Academy
7879 Spring Valley Rd.
Dallas, TX 75254
(214) 924-5545

 

Dog Alliance Grooming Salon and Academy
1321 West New Hope Dr.
Cedar Park, TX 78613
(512) 335-7100

 

Petite Pooch Chateau Grooming Academy
1204 Tappan Cir
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 417-7100

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Utah

Utah School of Pet Grooming
7306 Union Park Ave
Midvale, UT 84047
(801) 835-5810

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Virginia

Virginia School of Pet Grooming
9750 Center St
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 361-1363

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Washington

Maser’s Academy of Fine Grooming
6515 NE 181st St. PO box 82344
Kenmore, WA 98028
425-486-1299

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Wisconsin

WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PET GROOMING
W359 N5920 Brown St. Suite 102
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(262) 569-9492

 

Dog Grooming Schools in Wyoming

N/A

Jason Mills